Fianna Fáil Calls For 'Pick-Up Artist' To Be Refused Visa

Self-styled "pick-up artist" Julien Blanc should not be allowed to enter Ireland, Fianna Fáil's Bill Kelleher has said.

25-year-old Blanc was recently refused a visa to enter the UK for tour dates that were to take place in February 2015. He is due to appear in Ireland in June next year.

The party's spokesperson on health said: "This is a man who is travelling the world making money by promoting emotional and physical abuse against women.

"He actively encourages the continued sexualisation and objectification of women through his seminars and bootcamps, which he plans to bring to Dublin next summer. In my view, as a country we should simply say 'no thanks' and block his travel here through refusal of a work visa."

Deputy Kelleher added that the government and authorities invest heavily to ensure that the sort of "behaviour and abuse" promoted by Julien Blanc is not tolerated on a day to day basis, and that it would be "entirely counter-productive and would actually serve to undermine public policy if we were to facilitate his sick routine here."

The deputy continued: "Irish audiences are well used to confronting provocative and challenging humour, theatre and art. And rightly so, as our own artistic heritage is among the richest and most challenging in the world.

"But when someone packages abuse and manipulation of women into an event, and tries to market it in our country as a harmless bit of fun, we move into different territory entirely. If we have the potential to stop it we should. In this case, we can say no thanks to misogyny and simply refuse a visa."

(MH/JP)